Rother

Rother's population grew in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 91,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Rother increased by 6.0%, from about 85,400 to 90,600.

The addition of almost 5,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Rother was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Rother

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Rother increased by one year, from 49 to 50 years.

This coastal area had the highest average age in the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 16% of people in Rother are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Rother by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

Rother saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 and over in Rother said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 10% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 56% to 52%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner occurred in Isles of Scilly (from 8.4% to 11%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Rother saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) in Rother reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.2% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.4%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care occurred in East Lindsey (from 3.3% to 4.1%).

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Rother remained close to 3.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Rother by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of Rother residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 4.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 8.0%, while the percentage of Rother residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 88%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Rother increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Rother, the South East and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

Rother saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (43%) people aged 16 to 74 in Rother said they were employed, compared with 42% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed increased from 2.3% to 3.2%.

Across the region, only Eastbourne saw a greater rise in the proportion of employed people (from 48% to 50%).

The rate of employment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Rother

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. An increase from 15% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Rother.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Rother that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 65,000 in 2001 to about 59,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 65%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 6,900 to just under 7,400 (from 8.1% to 8.2%).

About 530 people (0.4%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just under 300 in 2001 (0.6%).

The population without a religion in Rother increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Rother by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Rother

In 2011, 97% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 98% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Rother.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Rother from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 520 in 2001 to just over 1,100 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.2%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 530 to about 1,000 (from 0.6% to 1.1%).

About 310 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 170 in 2001 (0.3%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Rother remained close to 97%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Rother by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Rother that rented privately increased from 9.3% to 14% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households lived in social housing, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage of Rother households that owned their home decreased from 78% to 74%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Rother increased by 4.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rother, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Rother residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.5% to 6.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of Rother residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25% to 17%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Rother decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Rother, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Rother working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Rother decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Rother, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Rother, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 6.2% to 8.0% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (34%) households had only one person, compared with 33% in 2001. The percentage of households in Rother which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 33% to 31%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Rother increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rother, the South East and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

The percentage of households in Rother with only adult children living with their parents increased from 6.9% to 7.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in five (22%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 23% in 2001. The percentage of households in Rother without children decreased from 71% to 70%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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